Celebrating our brightest emerging artists and established legends, the QMAs are a state-wide search for Queensland’s best music. Spanning 13 self-nominating categories including Pop, Rock, Blues / Roots, Country, Hip-Hop / Rap, Electronic / Dance, Heavy, Video and Schools.
Applications are now open for the 2019 Billy Thorpe Scholarship, funded by the Queensland Government and administered by QMusic. Now in its 11th year, the award provides $10,000 for an emerging artist to record with an established producer, and receive career-planning advice from Chugg Entertainment.
The scholarship, named in honour of the late Billy Thorpe, a great Australian rock musician who passed away in February 2007, was designed to help develop the future of rock and roll.
Thorpe spent his formative years in Brisbane and made an enormous contribution to the Australian and global music industry over five decades of performing, writing and producing.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Queensland Music Awards were a wonderful celebration of Queensland’s thriving music industry.
“The Palaszczuk Government, through Arts Queensland, proudly supports our state’s contemporary music scene,” Ms Enoch said.
“We’ve invested in QMusic to present the QMAs and BIGSOUND, in addition to a raft of awards that enable artists to take advantage of professional development opportunities and access new audiences. This includes the $10,000 Billy Thorpe Scholarship, which for ten years has supported local emerging musicians with their career development and helped them hone their art."
“Bearing the name of one of Australia’s rock’n’roll trailblazers, the scholarship is unlocking some exceptional musical talent here in Queensland, and putting truly promising artists on a path to success.”
Earlier this year the 2018 scholarship was awarded to 23-year-old Far North Queensland songstress Greta Stanley.
“Being the recipient of the 2018 Billy Thorpe Scholarship has allowed me to create & soon release new music I otherwise would have been struggling to afford and manage to do successfully. Being nominated for a QMA gave me confidence and reassurance that my art is important and appreciated by industry professionals and listeners alike.”
Greta Stanley
2018 Winner - Billy Thorpe Scholarship
A recording grant for early career artists, the scholarship, named in honour of the late Billy Thorpe was designed to help develop the future of rock and roll. The Scholarship is for an emerging musician or band over 18. You must be a Qld resident and in the early stages of developing your career.
Ticket Giveaway: Bombino
Our friends at BEMAC have given us a double pass to legendary Tuareg guitarist and singer, “the sultan of shred”, Bombino’s live performance at The Foundry on Thursday, 15 November.
AWMA Celebration
Queensland hosted the inaugural Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA) last night with a star-studded attendance at the Brisbane Powerhouse.
AMEX Music Grant
Over the next 12 months AMEX will be supporting the Australian music industry by giving music venues, business, artists and fans the opportunity to share in a grant program valued at $1million.
$10K Access Arts Achievement Award
The Access Arts Achievement Award provides funding for Queensland artists, arts workers and producers with disability working in any art form to create, develop, present, produce, exhibit and/or tour their work.
Regional Arts Development Fund
If you're a local artist, creative business or organisation, grants are available to bring your big ideas to life through the RADF. Projects supported are bold, collaborative and fuel the cultural charge that’s happening on the Gold Coast.
QMA 2019 Entries Open
The 7th annual Queensland Music Awards will return to the Royal International Convention Centre at Brisbane Showgrounds on Tuesday 19 March, 2019, celebrating what will have been an incredible 2018 for Queensland music. Entries are now open, submit your songs before 12 November!